Kentucky bluegrass--BA 70-139

ABSTRACT

A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, excellent turf performance in the sun and shade and a high level of seed yield potential.

BACKGROUND

Kentucky bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued onMay 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No., 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978;U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986;U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 027,285, filed of even dateherewith.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poapratensis which has been designated Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass.

Ba 70-139 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrassplant ("Gnome") disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.872,537, the seed parent, with a pollen parent plant. As a result ofthis breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagatedby rhizomes, tillers and disseminules.

Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass reproduced asexually by propagules, i.e.,by tillers and rhizomes and by disseminules (modified caryopses producedby apomoxis). Progeny plants have been consistently produced which areindistinguishable from the mother plant.

Ba 70-139 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including agood level of resistance to Helminthosporium spp. that causes leaf spot,melting out, and crown rot; Ustilago striiformis that causes stripesmut; Erysiphe graminis that causes powdery mildew; and Puccinia spp.that causes rust; an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderatelywide leaf blades; an attractive green color which can be maintainedthroughout the entire growing season; good turf performance as evidencedby consistently high scores in tests throughout the U.S.A. and Canada,and a high seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production regionof the U.S.A.

In comparison with its seed parent, Gnome, the new variety is more shadetolerant and has better resistance to powdery mildew and rust. Incomparison to the Kentucky bluegrass ("Ba 72-492") disclosed in U.S.Plant patent application, Ser. No. 027,285, filed of even date herewithand the Kentucky bluegrass ("72-500") disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986, both of which alsohave Gnome as their seed parent, Ba 70-139 produces seeds that arelonger, has panicles that nod more, and has peduncles that are thickerthan Ba 72-492; and Ba 70-139 has peduncles that are thinner and a seedyield that is higher than Ba 72-500.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass plant in thevegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass panicle;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass seed; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass turf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial withcreeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plantsoverwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and then are broughtinto the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed byclipping under moderate temperatures (60-80 degrees F.), culms are erectaveraging 435 mm in length with an average of 2.7 nodes per culm. Theuppermost internode averages 10.2 cm, and the peduncle averages 13.2 cmin length and 0.610 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 4.7 cm inlength, 3.2 mm in width, and 0.112 mm in thickness. The panicle isgenerally nodding with an average length of 6.7 cm, width of 3.7 cm, and4.8 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 3.8 branches and thethird whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.7branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowestwhorl is 5.2 mm in length and has 4.2 florets with an outer glume of 3.2mm and an inner glume of 3.5 mm in length. A similar spikelet from thethird whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.2 mm in length and has4.0 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm and an inner glume of 3.5 mmin length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has agenerally smooth keel and almost no long, fine hairs at the base. Theseed of Ba 70-139 is 2.86 mm in length and 0.78 mm in width withapproximately 1,246,200 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 70-139 withother bluegrasses varieties on seed measurements and on seed counts perpound are found in Tables 1 and 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Seed Measurements of Ba 70-139                                                and Other Bluegrass Varieties After                                           Conditioning.                                                                                  Length  Width                                                Variety          (mm)    (mm)                                                 ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139        2.86    0.78                                                 Ba 72-492        2.53    0.76                                                 Ba 72-500        2.77    0.80                                                 Baron            3.07    0.86                                                 Bristol          2.73    0.80                                                 Nassau           2.96    0.78                                                 Newport          2.76    0.71                                                 Park             3.04    0.72                                                 Ram I            3.51    0.84                                                 Victa            3.20    0.86                                                 LSD(.05)         0.19    0.06                                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Seed Counts Per Pound                                           of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass                                              Varieties After Conditioning.                                                 ______________________________________                                               Ba 70-139                                                                             1,246,200                                                             Adelphi 1,383,976                                                             America 1,659,824                                                             Gnome   1,017,641                                                             Baron   1,051,693                                                             Birka   1,223,530                                                             Bonnieblue                                                                            1,135,303                                                             Bristol 1,270,821                                                             Eclipse 1,335,668                                                             Glade   1,108,441                                                             Kenblue 1,463,923                                                             Merit   1,109,728                                                             Nassau  1,127,130                                                             Newport 1,226,481                                                             Park    1,248,349                                                             Sydsport                                                                              1,355,644                                                             Vantage 1,555,303                                                             Victa   1,038,298                                                      ______________________________________                                    

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influencemorphological characters to some extent, comparisons of morphologicalcharacteristics of Ba 70-139 are made with other Kentucky bluegrassvarieties in Table 3-10.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Panicles                                          of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                    in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio                                                                            Number                                     Panicle    Panicle Panicle Number of                                                                             of Branches                                       Nod-    Length  Width Whorls  Lower Third                              Variety                                                                              ding*   (cm)    (cm)  Per Panicle                                                                           Whorl Whorl                              ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                            2.0     6.7     3.7   4.8     3.8   2.7                                Ba 72-492                                                                            1.2     7.5     4.2   5.5     4.0   3.0                                Ba 72-500                                                                            2.0     6.8     3.8   5.0     4.0   2.4                                Baron  1.0     7.8     4.1   5.2     3.8   2.5                                Bristol                                                                              2.0     9.7     5.0   5.0     3.3   2.7                                Nassau 2.0     10.0    6.0   5.0     3.0   2.0                                Newport                                                                              2.0     10.3    4.4   4.5     2.3   2.3                                Park   1.6     9.0     3.7   4.0     4.3   3.7                                Ram I  2.0     9.0     4.7   4.0     2.5   2.0                                Victa  1.2     7.5     4.1   5.4     4.4   3.4                                LSD    0.5     1.6     1.0   0.8     0.7   0.8                                (.05)                                                                         ______________________________________                                         *Panicle nodding rated 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.                           

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Spikelets                                         of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                    in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                 Spikelet         Number of Florets                                            Length (mm)      per Spikelet                                                   Lowest  Third      Lowest                                                                              Third                                     Variety    Whorl   Whorl      Whorl Whorl                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139  5.2     5.2        4.2   4.0                                       Ba 72-492  5.2     5.0        4.4   4.2                                       Ba 72-500  5.1     5.0        4.2   3.9                                       Baron      5.0     5.0        3.7   3.8                                       Bristol    6.2     6.0        5.7   5.3                                       Nassau     4.6     4.6        4.5   4.5                                       Newport    5.3     5.2        5.2   5.2                                       Park       6.5     6.7        5.2   4.7                                       Ram I      4.7     5.2        5.2   5.5                                       Victa      5.2     5.0        3.8   3.8                                       LSD(.05)   0.9     0.8        1.1   1.0                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Glumes                                            of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                    in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                               Glume Length (mm)                                                             Outer         Inner                                                             Lowest              Lowet                                            Variety  Whorl   Third Whorl Whorl Third Whorl                                ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                              3.2     3.1         3.5   3.5                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2.9     3.0         3.3   3.3                                        Ba 72-500                                                                              3.1     3.1         3.4   3.4                                        Baron    2.9     2.8         3.4   3.3                                        Bristol  3.4     3.3         3.7   3.9                                        Nassau   2.3     2.4         2.7   2.7                                        Newport  2.6     2.5         2.9   2.9                                        Park     3.0     3.2         3.5   3.7                                        Ram I    2.6     2.4         2.9   2.7                                        Victa    2.8     3.0         3.3   3.3                                        LSD(.05) 0.5     0.4         0.4   0.4                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves                                       of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                    in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                  Flag Leaf   Flag Leaf Flag Leaf                                               Length      Width     Thickness                                     Variety   (cm)        (mm)      (mm)                                          ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 4.7         3.2       0.112                                         Ba 72-492 5.2         3.6       0.117                                         Ba 72-500 4.1         3.2       0.112                                         Baron     4.5         3.2       0.119                                         Bristol   5.5         3.4       0.127                                         Nassau    6.1         3.1       0.127                                         Newport   6.2         3.5       0.135                                         Park      4.2         2.6       0.109                                         Ram I     4.7         3.1       0.127                                         Victa     5.9         4.0       0.124                                         LSD(.05)  1.8         0.6       0.013                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Peduncles, Culms,                                 and Internodes of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass                               Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                      Pe-                            Top                                            duncle  Peduncle Culm  Number of                                                                             Internode                                      Length  Width    Length                                                                              Nodes Per                                                                             Length                                 Variety (cm)    (mm)     (mm)  Culm    (cm)                                   ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             13.2    0.610    435   2.7     10.2                                   Ba 72-492                                                                             12.6    0.558    486   2.2     10.5                                   Ba 72-500                                                                             12.9    0.660    439   2.7     9.8                                    Baron   12.7    0.559    482   2.5     10.1                                   Bristol 15.0    0.686    522   2.7     11.3                                   Nassau  8.0     0.533    450   2.5     11.2                                   Newport 18.0    0.558    547   2.3     11.2                                   Park    14.3    0.787    578   3.0     13.0                                   Ram I   18.5    0.610    527   3.0     10.2                                   Victa   12.2    0.711    474   2.4     10.6                                   LSD(.05)                                                                              3.7     0.018     79   0.6     2.1                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 8                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Leaves of                                         Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                       in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                                         Leaf                                                 Ligule   Leaf     Leaf   Angle                                                Length   Length   Width  (Degrees                                     Variety (mm)     (mm)     (mm)   From Horizontal)                             ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             0.26     218      4.1    55                                           Ba 72-492                                                                             0.28     239      4.4    52                                           Ba 72-500                                                                             0.25     204      4.1    50                                           Baron   0.30     313      4.4    63                                           Bristol 0.30     253      4.3    37                                           Nassau  0.22     226      3.5    39                                           Newport 0.22     251      4.1    50                                           Park    0.33     329      4.2    44                                           Ram I   0.18     188      3.7    40                                           Victa   0.28     235      4.3    52                                           LSD(.05)                                                                              0.11      49      0.6    10                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Leaf Hairs                                        of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                                    in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                  Hairs.sup.a Around                                                            Ligule on                                                                     Upper Surface Hairs.sup.a on                                                                         Hairs.sup.b on                               Variety   of the Leaf   Collar   Ligule                                       ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 1.0           3.5      1.5                                          Ba 72-492 1.0           3.2      1.3                                          Ba 72-500 1.0           3.5      2.7                                          Baron     1.0           5.0      4.0                                          Bristol   1.3           4.7      4.3                                          Nassau    2.7           5.0      1.0                                          Newport   1.0           4.0      0.8                                          Park      1.0           1.7      0.0                                          Ram I     1.0           3.7      0.3                                          Victa     1.0           3.3      2.2                                          LSD(.05)  0.3           1.4      1.8                                          ______________________________________                                         .sup.a hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many        .sup.b Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many                     

                  TABLE 10                                                        ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparisons of Ba 70-139 and                                    Other Bluegrass Varieties Grown as Unmowed                                    Spaced Plants in the Field at Marysville, Ohio.                               Mature                                                                        Plant Height   Panicle Density                                                                           Seedhead Weight                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                            35          5           402                                            Adelphi                                                                              42          3           345                                            Nugget 17          3           233                                            Bristol                                                                              40          4           511                                            Merion 25          2           320                                            Glade  20          3           214                                            Vantage                                                                              52          2           1019                                           Victa  23          2           648                                            ______________________________________                                         Ratings: Mature Plant Height (cm) includes panicle Panicle Density  1-10,     10 = high panicle density Seedhead Weight  Weight (mg) of 3 panicles     

Ba 70-139 has performed well throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, asexhibited by high turf quality ratings in many different locations incomparison to other varieties. In addition, Ba 70-139 tolerates shadygrowing conditions very well, which is an important characteristic thatallows an even broader range of use. The new variety has a pleasantmedium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing seasonand widely scattered locations in the U.S.A. and Canada. The color of Ba70-139 is enhanced compared to other varieties when grown in the shadedue to its high tolerance to the various stresses and diseases thatoccur frequently under shady conditions. Comparisons of Ba 70-139 withother varieties for quality, color, and shade performance are shown inTables 11-14.

                  TABLE 11                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of the Turf Quality of BA 70-139                                   and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A.                                   ______________________________________                                                  St. Louis   Adelphia  Marysville                                              Missouri    New Jersey                                                                              Ohio                                                    1 Year      2 Year    5 Year                                        Variety   Mean        Mean      Mean                                          ______________________________________                                        BA 70-139 3.2         6.1       2.3                                           America   2.8                                                                 Adelphi   2.9         6.4       2.3                                           Banff                                                                         Baron     2.7         6.4       2.3                                           Birka     2.3         5.9                                                     Bonnieblue            6.7                                                     Bristol   2.7         6.5                                                     Columbia              5.9                                                     Eclipse               7.2                                                     Flyking               5.7                                                     Glade     2.8         6.7       2.3                                           Gnome     2.9         6.4       2.2                                           Kenblue               3.3                                                     Merion                6.0       2.1                                           Merit     2.8         6.2                                                     Midnight              7.3                                                     Monopoly              5.7                                                     Nassau                5.9                                                     Newport                         2.0                                           Nugget                          2.4                                           Parade                5.6                                                     Park      1.8                                                                 Ram I                 6.2                                                     Sydsport  2.7         6.0                                                     Touchdown 2.7         6.1                                                     Vantage   2.6         3.6       2.1                                           Victa     2.8         6.5       2.3                                           Wabash                4.8                                                     Windsor                         2.0                                           ______________________________________                                                        Maryland                                                                Gervais              Prince                                                   Oregon      Beltsville                                                                             Frederick                                                1 Year      1 Year   1 Year                                         Variety   Mean        Mean     Mean                                           ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 2.9         5.8      2.4                                            America                                                                       Adelphi   2.8         5.9      2.0                                            Banff                 4.8                                                     Baron                 5.3                                                     Birka                                                                         Boonieblue            5.0      1.1                                            Bristol   3.0         5.0      1.5                                            Columbia              4.9                                                     Eclipse               5.9                                                     Flyking               4.9                                                     Glade                 5.3      1.3                                            Gnome                                                                         Kenblue                                                                       Merion                5.3      1.2                                            Merit                 6.1      1.5                                            Midnight              5.5                                                     Monopoly              4.9                                                     Nassau                4.5                                                     Newport                                                                       Nugget                                                                        Parade                5.0                                                     Park      1.8                  1.3                                            Ram I     2.4         4.6                                                     Sydsport              5.8                                                     Touchdown             5.8                                                     Vantage               5.5      2.0                                            Victa     2.7         5.5      1.6                                            Wabash                                                                        Windsor                                                                       ______________________________________                                         Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.                    

                  TABLE 12                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 70-139                                         and Other Bluegrass Varieties at                                              Various Locations in the U.S.A.                                                                Somis           Prince  Marys-                                       St. Louis                                                                              Cal-    Gervais Frederick                                                                             ville                                        Missouri ifornia Oregon  Maryland                                                                              Ohio                                         1 Year   1 Year  2 Year  1 Year  3 Year                               Variety Mean     Mean    Mean    Mean    Mean                                 ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             9.1      6.3     8.7     6.9     8.5                                  Adelphi 9.4      6.5     9.6     6.7     8.7                                  America 9.4                                                                   Baron   9.2                                                                   Birka   9.1      6.3                                                          Bono    9.0      6.2                                                          Bristol 9.5      7.6     9.5     7.3                                          Fylking                                  8.4                                  Glade   9.3      7.0             7.4     8.8                                  Gnome   9.3                              8.7                                  Kenblue          5.8                                                          Merion                           4.7     8.4                                  Merit            5.8                                                          Midnight         5.5                                                          Newport          6.0                     8.3                                  Nugget                                   8.8                                  Park    9.0              6.9     5.5                                          Ram I            7.3     8.6                                                  Rugby            6.7                                                          Sydsport                                                                              9.2                                                                   Touchdown                                                                             9.0                                                                   Vantage 9.2      5.7             6.3     8.4                                  Victa   9.2      6.0     8.5     6.8     8.7                                  Windsor                                  8.4                                  LSD(.05)                                                                              0.3                              0.2                                  ______________________________________                                         Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.                

                  TABLE 13                                                        ______________________________________                                        Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade                                  of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties.                                                    Marysville                                                   Prince Frederick Ohio                                                                 Maryland     Test 1  Test 2                                                                              Test 3                                                                              Test 4                                       3 Year       4 Year  4 Year                                                                              4 Year                                                                              2 Year                               Variety Mean         Mean    Mean  Mean  Mean                                 ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             2.1          2.6     2.4   3.1   2.6                                  Adelphi                            2.6   2.0                                  Banff                2.4                                                      Birka                              2.2                                        Bonniblue                    1.9   1.9                                        Bristol 1.8          2.4     2.0   2.6   1.7                                  Flyking                      1.9   1.5                                        Glade                2.1           2.5   1.5                                  Merion                       1.8   2.2   1.7                                  Monopoly             2.8                 2.4                                  Nassau                                   1.9                                  Newport 1.2          1.8     1.9                                              Nugget                             2.3                                        Parade                       2.0   2.3                                        Park                         1.9         1.8                                  Ram I                                    2.0                                  Rugby                2.2                                                      Sydsport                           2.5                                        Touchdown                    1.9   2.1                                        Vantage                            1.8   2.2                                  Victa   1.2          1.7     1.8   2.0   1.5                                  Wabash                                   2.2                                  Windsor                            1.7                                        ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-4, 4 = Best                                                      

                  TABLE 14                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Turf Color Under                                                Natural Shade Conditions of Ba 70-139                                         and Other Bluegrass Varieties.                                                                        Prince Frederick                                      Marysville              Maryland                                              Ohio                    3 Year                                                Test 1      Test 2  Test 3  Test 4                                                                              Mean                                        ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             8.8     8.3     8.3   8.2   8.2                                       Adelphi                 7.8   7.9                                             America                 7.5                                                   Banff           8.3                                                           Bonnieblue                                                                            8.5             7.5                                                   Bristol 8.4     7.8     7.5   7.9   8.2                                       Flyking 8.1                                                                   Glade           8.0     7.5   8.1                                             Merion  8.3                   8.1                                             Monopoly        8.3           7.8                                             Mystic                  7.8                                                   Nassau                        8.0                                             Newport 8.3     7.5     8.2         5.5                                       Nugget  8.3                                                                   Parade  8.2                                                                   Park    8.1             7.0   7.8                                             Ram I                   7.8   8.0                                             Rugby           8.3                                                           Sydsport                7.5                                                   Touchdown                                                                             8.3                                                                   Vantage                       8.0                                             Victa   8.3     8.0     7.9   8.1   6.0                                       Wabash          7.5           8.0                                             LSD(.05)        0.4     0.7   0.3                                             ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-9, 9 = darkest green                                             

Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turfperformance among locations and years. Comparisons of resistance to leafspot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused byHelminthosporium vagans, powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe graminis,rust caused by Puccinia spp., dollarspot caused by Sclerotinahomeocarpa, and stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis, arepresented in Tables 15-21.

                  TABLE 15                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 70-139 and -Other              Bluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A.                                ______________________________________                                                  St. Louis.sup.a                                                                           Beltsville.sup.b                                                                        Adelphia.sup.b                                Variety   Missouri    Maryland  New Jersey                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 2           7.3       7.0                                           A-34                  5.3       4.3                                           Adelphi   2           8.0       5.7                                           America   8                                                                   Banff                 5.3       7.0                                           Baron     2           7.0       8.7                                           Birka     5                     6.3                                           Bonnieblue                      7.0                                           Bono      7                                                                   Bristol   2           7.0       8.3                                           Columbia              5.7       6.3                                           Eclipse               7.7       9.0                                           Flyking               6.7       6.3                                           Glade     2           7.3       6.3                                           Gnome     2           7.0       8.0                                           Kenblue               3.3       1.7                                           Merion                6.3       7.7                                           Merit     3           7.3       7.7                                           Midnight              7.0       7.0                                           Monopoly              5.3       6.0                                           Mystic                                                                        Nassau                7.7       7.4                                           Parade                6.0       5.0                                           Park      52                                                                  Ram I                 6.5       7.0                                           Rugby                           5.0                                           Sydsport  3           7.3       6.3                                           Touchdown 7           7.7                                                     Vantage   7           5.0       2.0                                           Victa     2           8.0       7.0                                           Wabash                          2.0                                           Windsor                                                                       LSD(.05)  7                     1.9                                           ______________________________________                                                  Gervais.sup.a                                                                             Accokeek.sup.a                                                                          Marysville.sup.a                              Variety   Oregon      Maryland  Ohio                                          ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 7           4         0                                             A-34                                                                          Adelphi   0                                                                   America                                                                       Banff                                                                         Baron                                                                         Birka                                                                         Boonieblue                                                                    Bono                                                                          Bristol   1           3         0                                             Columbia                                                                      Eclipse                                                                       Flyking               16                                                      Glade                           27                                            Gnome                           0                                             Kenblue               3         40                                            Merion                5         0                                             Merit                                                                         Midnight                                                                      Monopoly                        13                                            Mystic                          35                                            Nassau                                                                        Parade                                                                        Park      13                    40                                            Ram I     3                                                                   Rugby                                                                         Sydsport                        0                                             Touchdown                                                                     Vantage               5                                                       Victa     3                     0                                             Wabash                                                                        Windsor               53                                                      LSD(.05)  5           22        9                                             ______________________________________                                         Ratings                                                                       .sup.a % of turf affected by disease                                          .sup.b 1-9, 9= least disease                                             

                  TABLE 16                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease                                          Incidence Under Natural Shade Conditions                                      on Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.                                                            Marysville                                                   Prince Frederick Ohio                                                         Variety Maryland     Test 1  Test 2                                                                              Test 3                                                                              Test 4                               ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             5            5       0     15    0                                    Adelphi              15                  10                                   America                      13          0                                    Banff                              45                                         Baron                                                                         Birka                8       3                                                Bonnieblue           58                  0                                    Bristol 5            5       2     30    10                                   Columbia                                                                      Eclipse                      5                                                Flyking              50                                                       Glade                5       36    65    0                                    Gnome                        72                                               Kenblue                      4                                                Merion               83                                                       Merit                                                                         Midnight                                                                      Monopoly                           5                                          Mystic                                   5                                    Nassau                                                                        Newport 53                         75    0                                    Nugget               18                                                       Parade               60                                                       Park                                     0                                    Ram I                                    25                                   Rugby                              40                                         Sydsport             15                  20                                   Touchdown            5       0                                                Vantage              30                                                       Victa   60           84      69    60    8                                    Windsor              26                                                       LSD(.05)                                                                              10           22            31    8                                    ______________________________________                                         Rated as % of turf affected by disease.                                  

                  TABLE 17                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease Incidence                                Under Conditions Other Than Natural Shade on                                  Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.                                              Greenhouse             Spaced Plants - Sun.sup.c                                      New Brunswick.sup.a                                                                        Marysville.sup.b                                                                        Marysville                                     Variety New Jersey   Ohio      Ohio                                           ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             4.7          2         0                                              Adelphi 0.8          6                                                        America 6.7                                                                   Banff   0.4                                                                   Baron   1.4          9         2                                              Birka   5.7                                                                   Bonnieblue                                                                            0.8                                                                   Bristol 6.4          2         2                                              Columbia                                                                              0.5                                                                   Eclipse 6.9                                                                   Flyking 1.3                                                                   Glade   7.0          7                                                        Gnome   1.7                                                                   Kenblue                        2                                              Merion  0.9          6         1                                              Merit   2.3          8                                                        Midnight                                                                              0.7                                                                   Monopoly                                                                              5.9                                                                   Mystic  8.3                                                                   Nassau               7                                                        Newport              2                                                        Nugget  7.0                    0                                              Parade  2.2                                                                   Park                 6         2                                              Ram I   7.2          2                                                        Rugby   0.6                                                                   Sydsport                                                                              6.1          2                                                        Touchdown                                                                     Vantage 5.0          4                                                        Victa   1.9          9         3                                              Windsor                        3                                              LSD(.05)                                                                              0.8          3         2                                              ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Rated 0-9, 9 = least disease                                           .sup.b Rated 1-9, 9 = most disease                                            .sup.c Rated 1-5, 5 = most disease                                       

                  TABLE 18                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) Disease                                    Incidence on Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.                                 Turf.sup.b        Unmowed Spaced Plants.sup.a                                 Gervais           Marysville                                                  Oregon            Ohio                                                        Variety Test 1   Test 2   Test 1    Test 2                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             12       1        1         0                                         Adelphi          4                  0                                         Baron                     3                                                   Bristol 7        2        2         0                                         Glade                               0                                         Kenblue                   2                                                   Merion                    2         2                                         Nugget                    3         0                                         Park             49       1                                                   Ram I            15                                                           Victa   63       13       2         1                                         Vantage                             2                                         Windsor                   3                                                   LSD(.05)                                                                              26                1                                                   ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Rated 1-5, 5 = most disease?                                           .sup.b Rated as % of disease incidence                                   

                  TABLE 19                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis)                                   Disease Incidence on Ba 70-139 and Other                                      Bluegrasses at Adelphia, New Jersey.                                                         Test 1                                                                              Test 2                                                   ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139        7.8     7.2                                                  Midnight         7.0     7.8                                                  Columbia         6.7     7.8                                                  Banff            6.5     7.7                                                  Bristol          7.7     7.7                                                  Parade           6.2     7.5                                                  Monopoly         7.1     7.4                                                  Ram I            7.0     7.3                                                  Victa            5.6     7.2                                                  Merit            5.7     7.0                                                  Baron            6.4     7.0                                                  Nassau           6.8     7.0                                                  Eclipse          4.7     7.0                                                  Bonnieblue       5.4     7.0                                                  Adelphi          7.1     6.9                                                  America          7.4     6.9                                                  Vantage          6.2     5.9                                                  Touchdown        3.5     5.7                                                  Birka            3.5     5.6                                                  Merion           2.4     3.6                                                  LSD(.05)         0.9     1.0                                                  ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-9, 9 = No Disease                                                

                  TABLE 20                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Dollarspot Disease Incidence                                    on Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.                                                                 Marysville                                                      Prince Frederick                                                                            Ohio                                                    Variety   Maryland        Test 1  Test 2                                      ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 30              37      32                                          Adelphi   8               20      36                                          America                   13                                                  Banff                             70                                          Baron     50              23      53                                          Birka     6               47                                                  Bonnieblue                                                                              10                      57                                          Bono      4               63                                                  Bristol   6               17      43                                          Columbia  10                                                                  Eclipse                    8      60                                          Glade                     40      43                                          Gnome                     22                                                  Kenblue   8               37      30                                          Merion                            50                                          Merit     4                       50                                          Midnight  6                                                                   Newport                           67                                          Park                      33      43                                          Ram I     40                      25                                          Rugby     12                      73                                          Sydsport                  43                                                  Touchdown                 50                                                  Vantage   11              15      32                                          Victa     5               23      30                                          Wabash    11                                                                  Windsor                           33                                          LSD(.05)  19              24      38                                          ______________________________________                                         Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.                           

                  TABLE 21                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Stripe Smut Disease                                             Incidence on Ba 70-139 and Other                                              Bluegrasses in Maryland.                                                      Variety      Prince Frederick                                                                           Accokeek                                            ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139    0            0                                                   Bristol      13           0                                                   Flyking                   2                                                   Kenblue                   0                                                   Merion                    2                                                   Mosa         28                                                               Vantage                   4                                                   Windsor                   58                                                  LSD(.05)     18           8                                                   ______________________________________                                         Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.                           

Ba 70-139 has the capability to tolerate heat and drought stress, and ithas a low growth habit and a lower vertical growth rate than manyvarieties, especially the common type of varieties such as Park,Kenblue, and Newport, that should allow it to tolerate lower mowingheights and possibly decrease the total number of mowings per yearwithout sacrificing overall turf performance. The leaf texture of thenew variety is similar to many bluegrass varieties when maintained undermowed turf conditions. Comparisons showing heat and drought stress, lowgrowth habit, and leaf texture are presented in Tables 22-24.

                  TABLE 22                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Drought and Heat Tolerance                                      of Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass in Maryland.                                 Variety    Test 1  Test 2     Test 3                                                                              Test 4                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139  6       0          8     3                                         Adelphi                       7     4                                         Baron                               0                                         Birka                               11                                        Bonnieblue                    12    8                                         Bono                                10                                        Bristol    31      50         10    5                                         Flyking            50                                                         Glade                         13                                              Kenblue            50               7                                         Merion             25         20                                              Merit                         18    2                                         Midnight                            17                                        Mosa       27                                                                 Park                          20    3                                         Ram I                               0                                         Rugby                               6                                         Vantage            0          7     7                                         Victa                         17    10                                        Wabash                              13                                        Windsor            50                                                         LSD(.05)           33         14                                              ______________________________________                                         Rated as % brown turf due to drought and heat stress.                    

                  TABLE 23                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Growth habit of Ba 70-139                                       and Other Bluegrasses at Marysville, Ohio.                                    Variety          Test 1  Test 2                                               ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139        2.0     1.8                                                  Adelphi          2.0     2.1                                                  America          1.8                                                          Baron            1.8     2.0                                                  Birka            2.0                                                          Bono             2.0                                                          Bristol          2.0                                                          Eclipse          2.0                                                          Flyking                  2.3                                                  Glade            2.2     1.7                                                  Gnome            2.0     1.7                                                  Kenblue          2.9                                                          Merion                   2.2                                                  Newport                  2.4                                                  Nugget                   1.5                                                  Park             2.9                                                          Sydsport         1.9                                                          Touchdown        2.0                                                          Vantage          2.7     3.0                                                  Victa            1.9     1.8                                                  Windsor                  2.0                                                  LSD(.05)         0.3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-5, 5 = Highest Growth Habit                                      

                  TABLE 24                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 70-139 and                                   Other Bluegrasses Under Mowed Turf Conditions.                                               St. Louis                                                                              Gervais                                               Variety        Missouri Oregon                                                ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139      4.0      2.0                                                   Adelphi        5.3      2.8                                                   America        6.0                                                            Baron          4.6                                                            Birka          6.0                                                            Bono           5.6                                                            Bristol        5.3      3.0                                                   Glade          6.0                                                            Gnome          4.3                                                            Merit          4.3                                                            Park           6.0      3.0                                                   Ram I                   3.0                                                   Sydsport       5.0                                                            Touchdown      5.0                                                            Vantage        6.0                                                            Victa          4.4      1.7                                                   LSD(.05)       0.7      0.5                                                   ______________________________________                                         Rating: Largest number indicates finest texture                          

Ba 70-139 has a high level of seed yielding ability which should make itan economically feasible variety to produce for commercial markets. Thelow susceptibility of Ba 70-139 to rust and lodging under typical seedfield conditions should aid in producing economical seed crops.Comparative results on seed yield, rust, and lodging are shown in Table25 and Table 26.

                  TABLE 25                                                        ______________________________________                                        Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 70-139 and                                       Other Bluegrass Varieties in Oregon.                                          Variety    Year 1       Year 2  Mean                                          ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139  643          930     787                                           Ba 72-492  585          864     725                                           Ba 72-500  559          757     658                                           Victa      780          1394    1087                                          Newport    435          1256    846                                           Bristol    347          808     578                                           Mosa       322          1060    691                                           LSD(.05)   140          134                                                   ______________________________________                                         Rating: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.                             

                  TABLE 26                                                        ______________________________________                                        Plant Characteristics of Ba 70-139 and                                        Other Bluegrass Varieties at Gervais, Oregon                                  Under Seed Production Conditions.                                                              Lodging                                                              Rust       Year 1  Year 2                                             ______________________________________                                        Ba 70-139 2            2.5     0                                              Ba 72-500 1            2.5     0.2                                            Ba 72-492 1            2.5     0.2                                            Victa     2            2.0     0                                              Bristol   4            4.0     1                                              Newport   4            4.0     1                                              Mosa      4            2.0     0                                              ______________________________________                                         Ratings                                                                       Rust: 1-4, 4 = very susceptible                                               Lodging: 0-5, 5 = severe lodging                                         

What is claimed is:
 1. A variety of Kentucky bluegrass plant,substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by ahigh level of resistance to diseases, a desirable green color throughoutthe growing season, a high quality persistent turf under a wide range ofenvironmental conditions including shady conditions, and a high level ofseed yielding capacity.